What goes on a men's packing list for Morocco?

Men sometimes assume Morocco is more relaxed about dress than it is, so my standard advice is to lean toward long trousers over shorts in towns and cities. Lightweight chinos or travel trousers in cotton or a technical blend are cooler than they look, keep you respectable in conservative neighbourhoods, and save your legs in the sun. Pack a few breathable t-shirts and a couple of collared short-sleeve shirts, which look smarter for dinners and mosaue courtyards while still being comfortable. Shorts are fine on the beach at Essaouira or Agadir and acceptable around a pool, but in the medinas they mark you as a tourist and can feel under-dressed.

Layering still applies for men, because evenings in the cities are cool, riads are unheated stone, and the desert and mountains turn cold fast after dark. A fleece or light insulated jacket earns its place in every season, and in winter I add a warmer coat and a hat. Footwear is the same priority as for everyone: comfortable, closed, broken-in walking shoes or trainers for the cobbled, dusty medinas, plus sandals for the coast or a riad pool if you want them. New shoes and long medina days are a bad combination, so break them in first.

For security and convenience, I steer men away from bulging back pockets in crowded souks and squares, where pickpocketing happens. A front pocket, a zipped jacket pocket or a slim money belt keeps cash and phone safer, and I always recommend leaving an expensive watch and excess cash at the riad. Carry small-denomination dirham notes for taxis, tips and street food, which rarely take cards. A small daypack for water, a camera and purchases is handy, worn to the front in the thickest crowds.

A handful of extras round out a man's kit: sunglasses, a hat or cap, strong SPF, lip balm for the dry air, and a refillable water bottle, since you will drink a lot. One smart-casual outfit — a collared shirt and clean trousers — covers the better rooftop restaurants without needing a jacket. A type C/E adapter charges everything; pack a power bank for long days out. What to leave behind: vests and very short shorts for town wear, heavy denim that is hot and slow to dry, and anything you would be upset to coat in fine desert dust. Pack light overall, because medina stairs, porters and souvenir shopping all reward a manageable bag.